On Monday, the Texas grocery chain announced they are bringing S.E.A.L. Security Services K-9s to Corpus Christi.

The security company has served H-E-B stores in San Antonio and Houston, said Regina Garcia, director of public affairs.

James Alexander, director of operations for the Houston-based security company, said all security officers have military or law enforcement backgrounds. He said the K-9s will be at four Corpus Christi locations.

“What we’re doing is increasing the security presence using the K-9 and proactive patrols as a visual deterrent,” Alexander said. “(The dogs) will be used as a non-lethal tool.”

The main goal of the police-trained dogs’ presence: safety for all.

Employees and customers are the stores’ top priority, and security officers and K-9s will be looking for suspected car break-ins, purse snatchings and any type of crime to make customers and employees safer, Alexander said.

Dogs and security officers were also given a feel for the stores’ layout in other H-E-B locations in San Antonio and Houston.

“They know our customer base and our stores very well,” Garcia said. “They’ll be at various locations to see what works best. They’ll let us know what they see and hear.”

Alexander said the officers will be from the area and will have at least one K-9 present.

“They are trained police dogs, but they’re not as aggressive,” he said. “They’re socially trained. They are friendly but they are working dogs.”

Alexander said the security company looks to expand to more H-E-B locations in the city in the future.